The effects of the war in Syria have been disastrous for Lebanon. The country has received more than one million refugees, and one-third of the population are now refugees. Norway is one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid in support of the victims of the war in Syria.

Norway wishes to contribute to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Institution building is therefore a key feature of the Norwegian development cooperation. In 2013, Norway helped build hundreds of classrooms.

The war in Syria has created one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. The conflict threatens both regional stability and international peace and security, and it is a sad example of how quickly war can set a society back several decades.